Argentina
Mesopotamia
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North of Buenos Aires, the RÃo Paraná is one of the world’s great rivers. In South America, only the Amazon is longer. Draining more than a million square kilometers, it flows south from Brazil, forms much of the border between Argentina and Paraguay, and finally meets the RÃo Uruguay north of Buenos Aires to form the RÃo de la Plata.
For the northeastern Argentine provinces, the Paraná and the Uruguay are a great part of their visitor appeal. In the area between the rivers, known collectively as Mesopotamia, the provinces of Entre RÃos, Corrientes, and Misiones boast natural attractions like the rolling palm savannas of Parque Nacional El Palmar; the wildlife-rich wetlands of Esteros del Iberá, and the thunderous Iguazú Falls.
They also have cultural allure: the Entre RÃos city of Gualeguaychú hosts Argentina’s liveliest Carnaval, though the provincial capital of Corrientes comes a close second. Misiones takes its name from the colonial Jesuit outposts, now impressive ruins, that inspired the film The Mission.
On the Paraná’s western banks, the port of Rosario and its agricultural hinterland make Santa Fe Province an economic powerhouse. Rosario, for its part, is a city of monuments and a vigorous cultural life that challenges Córdoba’s claim as the republic’s second city. North of Santa Fe, Chaco and Formosa Provinces are hot, subtropical lowlands that reward dedicated, environmentally sensitive travelers who seek out their national parks and are earning spots on the itineraries of many overland travelers.
A word on climate: Northeastern Argentina can be stiflingly hot and humid in summer, and heavy rains can occur in any season. Locals say there are only two seasons—the mild sunny winter (the best time to explore the region) and the hot muggy summer. The transition from one to the other can be sudden.
The Best of Mesopotamia
© Wayne Bernhardson from Moon Argentina, 2nd edition
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